Machine for filling receptacles with measured quantities of material



April 19, 1949. J. w. McCASLIN MACHINE FOR FILLING RECEEI'ACLES WITH MEASURED QUANTITIES OF MATERIAL 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 30, 1943 Fl (i I A to rneys April 19, 1949. J. w. McCASLIN 2,467,766

MACHINE FOR FILLING RECEPTACLES WITH MEASURED QUANTITIES OF MATERIAL Filed Nov. 30, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 i 19 uzunmmnnmnmmmrn 8 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG 4:

////'/I III] ///7//l M CASLIN MACHINE FOR FILLING REGEPTACLES WITH MEASURED QUANTITIES OF MATERIAL April 19, 1949.

iled Nov. 30, 1943 A nl 19, 1949. J. w. M CASLIN 2,467,766

MACHINE FOR FILLING RECEPTACLES WITH MEASURED QUANTITIES 0F MATERIAL Filed Nov. 50, 1943 v 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Affornqys 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 flffarrzegs R FILLING RECEPTACLES WITH MEASURED QUANTITIES OF MATERIAL Filed Nov. 30, 1943 V FIG. 10

Patented Apr. 19,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR FILLING RECEPTACLES WITH MEASURED QUANTITIES F MATERIAL John W. McCaslin, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan,

Canada, assignor to International Milling Company, Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Delaware Application November 30, 1943, Serial No. 512,330 In Canada December 19, 1942 12 Claims. 1

invention is to provide a method and a machine of this kind with means of improved construction for effecting the compressing of the material in a package. A further object is to provide a machine of this kind with packaging forms of improved construction in which the contents of the package are compressed, and from which the package with the compressed contents may be readily removed. A further object is to provide a machine of this kind with means of improved construction for ejecting the packages from the machine.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a machine of this kind in which the movement of the packing plunger acting on one package releases material for deposit in another package. It is also an object of this invention to provide means whereby the packing plunger while compressing the contents in one package also effects the discharge of another package from its packing form.

Other objects of this invention will appear from the following description and claims.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate by way of example one embodiment of this invention:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of my improved machine.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of the filling tubes and other parts of the filling tube assembly shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged front view of the packer plunger assembly shown in Fig. 1.

-Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the assembly appearing in Fig. 3, the plane-of the section being substantially along the line'l-l of Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the assembly shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the drive mechanism provided for operating the moving parts of said machine.

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view of the packing form assembly shown in Fig. 1, the plane of the section being substantially along the line l-l of Fig. 8.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the packing form assembly shown in Fig. 'l.

Fig. 9 is a view partly in plan and partly in horizontal section of a modified. mechanism for operating the pusher plates which serve to discharge the filled bags onto a suitable conveyor.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line l0l0 of Fig. 9.

As shown in the drawings, my improved machine comprises a weighing mechanism 5, a filling tube assembly 6, a packing plunger assembly 1 and a packing form assembly 8.

The weighing mechanism and its operating means This mechanism comprises a feed chute l0, an automatic weighing scale II, and a hopper l2. The scale H is provided with conventional automatic tripping means (not shown) which is actuated by the tripping shaft I 3. When the machine is in use shaft I3 is intermittently operated so that an accurate measured charge of the material delivered to weighing scale II by feed chute I0 is deposited in hopper l2 eachtime one of the filling tubes hereinafter referred to is brought to a position of rest beneath the lower or discharge end of the hopper. It may also be noted here that shaft I3 is driven from a shaft of the hereinafter described packing plunger assembly I so that tripping of scale II and the filling of the tube positioned beneath the hopper I2 is timed to occur when the packing plunger is travelling downwardly through a previously filled tube which has been advanced to the packing station at which the packing plunger is located.

The filling tube assembly and its operating means This assembly in the particular construction illustrated includes a plurality of equi-distant filling tubes l5 depending, in circular series, from a turn-table [6 carried by the upper portion of a sleeve I! which is mounted to turn about a stationary vertical shaft l8. A horizontal gear wheel I9 is fixed to turn with the table li-and sleeve IT. This gear wheel.l9 is drivenby a pinion 20 carried by the lower end of a vertical shaft 2| which is journalled in upper and lower bearings 22 carried by the platform 23 of the frame structure generally indicated at 24. Shaft 2| is driven through bevel gears 25 and 26 by a horizontal counter shaft 21 which is also journailed in bearings 28 carried by platform 23. Shaft 21 is equipped with an electromagnetic brake 29 and is connected to the main drive shaft 30 by a releasable drive connection including sprocket 3|, sprocket chain 32, sprocket 33 and an electromagnetic clutch 34.. This drive connection between shafts 21 and is operative when clutch 34 is engaged and is inoperative when said clutch is deenergized and disengaged.

The filling tubes IS in the particular construction illustrated by way of example are of oblong rectangular cross section and are open at both ends. The lower half of each tube includes a movable half section 35 whose side flanges 31 are slidably fitted between the side flanges 38 of the opposing fixed half section 39. The sect1on 36 is normally held in the inwardly swung position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 by a spring hinge 40 located at the upper end thereof. In this normal position of tube section 36. the lower end of the tube is restricted and given a tapered configuration which makes it easier to slip a bag or package thereon as indicated at X in Fig. l. Stops 42, Fig. 2, carried by the flanges 31 of each tube section 36, are fitted in slots 43 provided in extended portions of the overlapping flanges 38. These stops permit a limited outward movement of the tube section 36 relative to the opposing section 39 when the packing plunger is moved downwardly through the tube as subsequently described in connection with the packing operation. The bag or package X which is fitted on the lower end of the tube [5 is frictionally held in place thereon by suitable outwardly bowed spring strips 45.

The turn-table i6 is intermittently operated, being in the particular machine illustrated, turned through one-quarter of a complete revolution each time the clutch 34 is engaged to establish a drive connection between the table driving shaft 21 and the main shaft 30. After the table has travelled through this distance the clutch 34 is automatically disengaged and the brake 29 is simultaneously set to brin the table to a stop and to hold it stationary until the clutch 34 is re-engaged. As the table it is brought to rest at the end of each quarter revolution one of the tubes 15, to which a bag or package X has previously been applied, is positioned directly beneath the lower or discharge end of the hopper i2 and the diametrically opposite tube is brought to a bag receiving position in front of the hopper and is fitted with a bag or package by an attendant stationed in front of the machine. As each bag carryin tube i5 comes to rest beneath the hopper ii at what may be termed the fillin or loading station, the scale ii is tripped by automatic operation of the tripping shaft I3 so that a measured charge of the material to be packaged is deposited in the tube and drops down upon the bottom of the tube-carried bag or container. When this filling operation is completed the clutch 34 is automatically re-engaged to rotate the table through another quarter of a revolution during which the filled tube moves on to the packin station represented by the plunger assembly 1 and the packing form assembly 8. It will thus be seen that, as each tube i5 is moved through a complete circle by intermittent operation of the table It it travels from a bag receiving station located forwardly of the hopper II to a filling or loading station where it is positioned directly beneath the hopper II; from thence to a packaging station represented by the packing plunger assembly 1 and the packing form assembly 8 and from thence back to the bag receivin station. At the packing station a packing plunger, hereinafter referred to, causes the material and package to be forced from the tube into an underlying packing form where the pressure of the plunger serves to pack the ma- 4 terial tightly in the package or bag while the side and bottom walls of the same are sustained against the plunger pressure by the correspondin walls of the packing form.

The packing plunger assembly and its operating means This assembly includes a cylindrical plunger 41 which slides vertically in a sleeve bearing 4| carried by the platform 23 and is equipped, at its lower end, with an oblong packing head 43, which may be rectangular or other suitable shape to fit into the package X. The upper end of plunger 41 is fastened to a guide carriage 50 which, in turn, is suspended from a supporting shaft Si by a connecting rod 52, see also Figs. 3 and 4. The shaft 5i extends between and is rigidly secured, by fastening pins 53 to diametrically opposite carrying portions of two endless sprocket chains indicated at 54 and 55. The chain 54 is trained around upper and lower chain sprockets 53 and 51 carried by the inner ends of short tube shafts II and 53 journalled in bearings and Si carried by one side of the plunger guide frame generally indicated at 52. The sprocket chain 55 is trained around upper and lower sprockets 63 and 64 carried by the inner ends of short stub shafts 6! and 6 journalled in bearings 61 and 63 carried by the opposite sides of the plunger guidin frame 52. The front and rear portions 62a and 82b of frame 62 serve as guide tracks for front and rear guide rollers 1| and 12 journalled in the plunger guide carriage.

The stub shaft 58 of the plunger driving chain 54 drives the trip shaft ll of scale ii through a drive connection comprising sprocket 14, sprocket chain 15 and sprocket 16, Fig. 1. It is this last mentioned drive connection which times the trippin of the scale ll so that one tube I5 is being filled while the material and bag carried by another tube is being forced into one of the packing forms by the downward movement of the packing plunger 41.

The lower stub shafts i3 and 86 of the plunger driving chains 54 and 55 are driven from the main drive shaft 3! through a releasable drive connection comprising reduction gearing 18a, shaft 18b, sprocket wheel 18, sprocket chain 19, sprocket wheel 80 and electromagnetic clutch ti. Shaft 18b is equipped with an electromagnetic brake 10d, Fig. 1. The operation of the clutches 34 and ii is controlled by suitable switches hereinafter referred to so that the clutch ii is disengaged when the clutch 34 is engaged and vice versa. The clutch 8| is disengaged each time the plunger 41 is raised to its starting position after it has made a downward or working stroke. The plunger 41 is caused to make this working stroke and to return to its starting position by automatic engagement of clutch II which occurs simultaneously with the disengagement of clutch 34 to permit the tum-table ii of the filling tube to be brought to rest with one tube l5 positioned beneath the hopper l2 and a previously filled tube ii positioned to permit the plunger 41 to be passed downwardly therethrough, said last mentioned tube being located directly over one of the packing forms of the packing form assembly 8 so that the movement of the plunger downwardly through said tube causes the material and the bag carried by the tube to be forced into the underlying packing form. Any other means for actuating the pllrurtilger 41 may, of course, be employed, if dea e The packing form assembly and its operating means This assembly includes a turn-table 85 carried by a tube 86 mounted to turn around a stationary shaft 81. The rotary movement of table 85 is synchronized with the rotary movement of the previously mentioned tube-carrying table I8 in any suitable manner, for example, by a drive connection comprising a sprocket chain 81a trained around sprockets 88 and 89 carried, respectively, by the tubes I1 and 86. The turntable 85 carries a plurality of bag receiving packing forms 9I,'see Figs. 1, '1 and 8, arranged in circular series thereon, each form including a vertically movable horizontal bottom wall 91 and four vertically extending marginal walls 98, 99, I88 and IN. For convenient description the marginal walls 98, and IM of each form are hereinafter referred to as the front and rear walls while the remaining walls 99 and I08 are hereinafter referred to as the side walls.

The lower ends of the front wall 98 and the side walls 99 and I08 are hingedly connected to the table 85 as indicated at I02 so that these walls may be swung outwardly from a truly vertical form contracting position to a vertically inclined form expanding position and vice versa. The rear wall IOI of each form is rigidly attached to table 85 so that this wall always remains in a position perpendicular to the upper surface of the table. It will also be noted that the rear wall prefer ably IIl-I comprises two sections I03 and I84, Fig. 8, arranged in side by side arrangement with the inner edges spaced apart to provide an intervening slot for the passage of a lifting arm I81 which carries the bottom wall 91 and is free to slide on a vertical guide post I88. The several guide posts I88 have their lower ends rigidly secured to the table 85 and their upper ends interconnected by a rectangular bracing frame I09 which is open at the center to permit passage of the shaft 81 therethrough. The bottom wall lifting arm I01 of each form is connected to. the bottom wall lifting arm I81 of the diametrically opposite form by a flexible element IIO which is trained around guide pulleys I I I carried by brackets I I2 mounted at diametrically opposite corner portions of the rectangular bracing frame I09. It will thus be seen that when the bottom wall 91 of one packing form 9I is moved downwardly by the packing plunger, the connected bottom wall of the diametrically opposite form will be caused to move upwardly. Any other connections between the bottom walls of a pair of packing forms may be employed, if desired.

The contraction and expansion of each -form 91 may be controlled in any suitable or desired manner, and in the construction illustrated,- this is effected by a vertically movable form encircling member or plate II4 provided with a rectangular central opening II5 through which the marginal walls of the form extend. 'This plate slides on guide rods I I6 and is provided with depending guide tubes II1 encircling said rods. Coil springs IIO arranged on the lower portions of guide rods II6 act upwardly against the lower ends of the guide tubes I "and normally serves to hold the plate I M in an elevated position as indicated by the showing of the left hand form in Figs. 1 and 7. The front wall 98 and the side walls 99 and I88 of each form are each provided with a cam projection I28 secured to the outer side thereof and are adapted to cooperate with the plate II4. As here shown each cam projection I28 consists of a vertically extending angle iron section having its upper end tapered to provide an inclined portion I2I. When the plate II4 associated with each form 9I is depressed, as hereinafter described, to the lowered position represented by the showing of the right hand form in Figs. 1 and 7, the front and side edges of the plate opening II5 act against the inclined edges III of the cam projection I20 to swing the front and side walls 98, 99 and I0'0 of the form inwardly to an upright or form contracting position. As each form 9| is moved around to the right hand side of shaft 81, the plate I I4 thereof is depressed by means of a roller I23 carried by a stationary arm I24 fixed to and extending outwardly from the shaft 81. In this connection it will be noted that the roller I23 rides upon and depresses a curved cam track member I25 mounted on the upper surface of plate II4 adjacent the rear edge thereof, said cam track member I25 being curved about a center coinciding with the central axis r? shaft 81 and being provided with tapered end portions. I26. When the cam track I25 passes out of engagement with the roller I23 the plate I I4 is returned to its normal elevated position by the springs II8 and permits the walls 98, 99 and I08 of the form to be moved outwardly to a vertically inclined position or form expanding position, for example, any other means for contracting and expanding the packing forms in timed relation to the operation of the machine may be employed.

The form carrying table 85, being driven from the tube carrying table I6 by the drive chain 81a, is turned through a part of a revolution each time the electromagnetic clutch 34 is engaged, for example, a quarter of a revolution in the construction illustrated. At each quarter revolution of table 85 one of the forms 9| is positioned directly below the packing head 49 of the plunger 41. At the same time, owing to the' concurrent rotation of the form carrying table 85, one of the filling tubes I5 is interposed between the elevated plunger head 49 and the underlying form 9|. As the tables I6 and 85 come to rest the plunger head 49 is moved downwardly through the aligned tube I5 and causes the material and the bag carried by said tube to be forced into the underlying form. At this time the bottom wall 91 of the form into which the material and the bag is forced by the plunger is in its elevated position at the top of said form. However, as the plunger descends the underlying bottom wall 9.1 is caused to travel downwardly to the bottom of the form and, in. so doing, causes the connected bottom wall 91 of the diametrically opposite form to be raised to its elevated position. In this connection it will be understood that, as each form arrives at its plunger receiving position, the front and side walls thereof are operated to a form contracting position and are held in this position until the packing operation is complete and the plunger is moved upwardly on its working stroke. As the plunger packing head 49 enters the receiving form it compresses the material against the bottom and sides of the bag while these portions of the bag are sustained against such pressure by the marginal and bottom walls of the form. As previously stated the plunger 41 is driven so that, at each operation thereof, it makes a full working stroke and then returns to its elevated or starting position. As the plunger returns to its starting position a projection I30, carried by the portion of the plunger supporting the connecting rod 52, engages and closes 2. normally open switch I8I located at the'upper end of the plunger guide frame 82, Figs. 3 and 4. The switch III energizes the right hand clutch magnet I 32 shown in Fig. 6 and draws the magnetic core or solenoid I33 to the right. The solenoid I13 carries a clutch shifting yoke I34 which is engaged in the groove I35 of a clutch sleeve III which is rigidly connected to the movable clutch members I31 and I" of the electromagnetic clutches 34 and II. Consequently, as the solenoid core I33 is drawn to the right by energizatien of the magnet I12 it causes the clutch 34 to be engaged and the clutch ll to be disengaged. This disrupts the drive connection between the main drive shaft 30 and the plunger 41 and establishes a drive connection between said main drive shaft and the tube carrying table I8 through the medium of the sprocket chain 32 and other parts which have been described. The plunger 41 is thus brought to rest in its elevated position while the tables I and 85 are rotated through another quarter of a revolution, during which the filling tube I5 and the form 5| previously positioned beneath the plunger 41 are replaced by another form and another filled bag carrying tube. As each form 9| travels beyondits plunger receiving or packing station the front and side walls thereof are permitted to swing-outwardly by upward movement of the plate H4 to facilitate removal of the packed bag from the form when it has so moved around the shaft 81 to a position diametrically opposite the plunger receiving position or packing station.

thus releasing the clutch U and engwinl the clutch 8i. This disrupts the drive connection previously established between the main drive shaft 30 and the tube carrying table I I and reestablishes the drive connection between the said main shaft and the shaft 58 of the Plunger 09- crating mechanism whereby said plunger is again moved downwardly on its return stroke and then returned to its normal or elevated position.

The movable elements of the previously mentioned electromagnetic brakes and 18d are connected by yokes I52 and I" to end portions 'of the clutch operating solenoid III. Fig. 8. by

' any suitable means (not shown), so that when As each form carrying a packed bag reaches a position diametrically opposite the packing 'stadiametrically opposite form which is being dethe clutch 34 is disengaged, the brake 28 is simultaneously applied to stop the table I, and when the clutch ll is disengaged, the brake lid is applied to stop the plunger actuating mechanism. By reason of these connections the brake 2! is engaged simultaneously with the disengagement the machine is in operation and is provided with a pulley 30a adapted to be belt connected to the drive pulley by a motor or other prime mover. In Figs; 9 and 1 0 I have shown a modified arrangement for operating the pusher plate I.

pressed by the descending motion ofthe plunger? in a subsequent packing operation. As thebottom wail of each packed form is raised to the top of the form it moves the bag upwardly to a position where it can be conveniently discharged onto1 a suitable conveyor (not shown) by a mechanically actuated means such, for example,- as, a pusher plate I. This pusher plate is carried by an arm I42, Fig. 7. which slides in a guide. I 43 rigidly mounted on the shaft 81. A link or pitman I43a is pivotally connected to the arm I42 and a sprocket I44 which is driven by a chain I45 from a sprocket I45 mounted on a shaft I41. The last mentioned shaft is driven by gearing (not shown) from a shaft I48 which, in turn, is driven from the shaft 18 of the plunger operating chain 54 through a drive connection comprising sprocket I49, sprocket chain I and sprocket I5 I The herein described mechanism for operating the pusher plate I is arranged so that the pusher plate is drawn inwardly toward the shaft 81 during the downward movement of plunger 41 and is moved outwardly with relation to such shaft during the upward or return movement of, the plunger. During the outward movement thereof the pusher plate engages the bag carried by the elevated bottom wall of the adjacent form and pushes said bag onto the previously mentioned conveyor.

Each time the tube carrying table It is rotated through one-quarter of an-evolution one of a plurality of arms I55 carried by said table engages and closes a normally open switch I56 mounted on a supporting standard I51 of the platform 23. The closure of switch I55 energizes the left hand clutch magnet I58 (Fig. 6) and causes the solenoid I33 to be moved to the left,

In this case the pusher plate is provided with a guide stem I64 which slides in guides I" carried by a frame structure "I which is fastened to shaft v 81. The guide stem I is provided to a shaft I15 journalled in suitable bearings I'll carried'by'the frame structure I10. One end of shaft i 15 is provided with a sprocket wheel I11 adapted to be driven by a chain such, for example, as the chain I45 shown in Fig. 1.

The cam'groove I12 is shaped so that the pusher plate I4I will be advanced and retracted in suitably timed relation to the rotation of the form carrying table 55.

Any other means may be employed for removing the packages from the machines.

The apparatus described has the advantages of being of simple and efilcient construction and of being capable of compressing the material to any desired extent, even if the package is in the form of a bag of relatively thin paper, since the package is securely confined against rupture during packing or compressing of the material by the walls of the packing forms. After the material has been compressed to the desired extent, the walls of the packing forms are moved outwardly to release the package, so that damage to the package in discharging the same from the machine is also avoided.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a packaging machine, the combination of a rotary tum-table having a plurality of packing forms mounted thereon and movable intermittently to position the packing forms successively in a package receiving position. means for placing packages into the packing forms and compressing the contents thereof while in said forms, said i having movable bottoms which are moved downwardly when the packages are inserted in said forms, and a mechanical connection between the bottoms of a pair of forms for moving the bottom of one form upwardly when the bottom of another form is moved downwardly during compression of 'the contents of a package contained therein.

2. In a packaging machine, the combination of a rotary turn-table having a plurality of packing forms mounted thereon and movable intermittently to position the packing forms successively in a package receiving position, means for placing packages into the packing forms and compressing the contents thereof while in said forms, said forms having movable bottoms which are moved downwardly when the packages are inserted in said forms, and a flexible cord connecting the bottoms of two packing forms to produce upward movement of the bottom of one packing form when the bottom of the other packing form is moved downwardly.

3. In a packaging machine, the combinatio of a rotary turn-table having a plurality of packing forms mounted thereon and movable intermittently to position the packing forms successively in a package receiving position; a plunger for moving a package downwardly in a packing form and compressing the contents thereof in said form, said packing forms having movable bottoms, and means connecting the bottoms of each pair of packaging forms for raising the bottom of one form of a pair for ejecting a package therefrom when the bottom of the other form is moved down by said plunger while compressing the contents thereof.

, l out of package receiving position, said forms having side walls movable toward each other into 4. In a packaging machine, the combination of a rotary turn-table having a plurality of packing forms mounted thereon and movable intermittently to position the packing forms successively in a package receiving position, means for placing packages into the packng forms and compressing the contents thereof by downward pressure while in said forms, said forms having movable bottoms which are moved downwardly when the packages are inserted in said forms, and compressed therein, and connections between the bottoms. of each pair of said packing forms for moving said bottom of one form upwardly to discharge a package therefrom when the bottom of the other form of the pair is moved downwardly, and means for moving said packages laterally from the raised bottoms to remove them 7 from said turn-table.

5. In a packaging machine, the combination of a, turn-table having a plurality of packing forms mounted thereon and movable intermittently to place said packing forms successively into package receiving and compressing positions, means for feeding the packages into positions above said forms, a plunger for entering the open upper ends of said packages and moving the packages into said forms while compressing the contents thereof, means actuated by said plunger through the medium'oi' the contents of one of said packages while compressing the same, for moving a package upwardly out of another packing form, and means actuated in timed relation to the movement of said plunger for pushing thep'ackages sideways from said turn-table.

6. In a packaging machine, the combination of a turn-table having a plurality of packing forms mounted thereon and movable intermittently to move the packing forms successively into and operative positions to confine the side walls of a packase while the contents of the same are compressed, and into inoperative positions to release the side walls of said package to facilitate discharging ,of the package, a member movable lengthwise of said walls for moving the same into their package confining positions, and cam means on said member for moving the same into a position to move the walls of a packing form toward each other when said packing form moves into package receiving position.

7. In a packaging machine, the combination of a packing form adapted to receive a package containing material, and a plunger which compresses the contents of said package while the same is in said form, said form including side walls hinged at one end to swing into positions to contract said form and into other positions to expand said form, cam faces on the outer surfaces of said hinged side walls, a form encircling member extending about the walls of aid form. and engaging said cam faces during up and down movement thereof to move said hinged walls into their operative positions, means for guiding said encircling member for movement relatively to said form, and means for imparting movement to said encircling member in directions to move said hinged walls into form contracting position and to release said hinged walls to permit expansion of said form.

3. In a packaging machine, the combination of a turn-table having a plurality of packing forms mounted thereon and movable intermittently to move the packing forms successively into and out of package receiving position, said forms having side walls pivoted at their lower ends and having the parts thereof above said pivots, movable toward each other into operative positions to confine the side walls of a package while the contents of the same are compressed, and intg' inoperative positions to release the side walls of said package to facilitate discharging of the package, said packing forms having movable bottom walls which are movable downwardly when a package is inserted into a packing form and which are movable upwardly to eject the package from the form when said side walls are in their package releasing positions, and con- I nections between the bottom walls of two packing forms to, raise one bottom wall when the other bottom wall is moved downwardly.

9. In a packaging machine, the combination of a packing form adapted to receive a package containing material, and a plunger which compresses the contents of said package while the same is in said form, said form including side walls hinged at one end to swing into positions to contract said form and into other positions to expand said form, cam faces on the outer surfaces of said hinged side walls. a form encirclin member extending about the walls of said form and engaging said cam faces duringup and down -movement of said member to move said hinged walls into their operative positions, means for guiding said encircling member forfmovement relatively to said form, means for imparting movement to said encircling member in directions to move said hinged walls into form contracting position and to release said hinged walls to permit expansion of said form, and means for pushing the packages laterally from the bottom walls when the same are in raised position, to remove the packages from the tum-table.

emes 10. In a packaging machine, the combination of a plurality of filling tubes, means on said tubes to engage packages to releasably attach the same to the lower open ends thereof, a rotary tumtable on which said tubes are mounted and which moves said tubes intermittently to various stations in a circular gath, means at one of the stations of said tubes for introducing measured charges of material into said tubes while the lower ends thereof are closed by said packages, a second rotary turn-table having a plurality of packing forms arranged thereon and movable intermittently simultaneously with said first mentioned tum-table about an axis substantially parallel with the axis of said first turn-table, said packing forms having side walls movable toward and from each other to confine and release a package, means for synchronizing the movement of said turn-tables to position a packing form under a filling tube and package, a plunger slidably mounted on said machine and arranged to enter a, filling tube when over a packing form to move the package and material from the filling tube to the packing form and to compress andpack the material in said package while the same is in said form, means for moving said side walls of a form toward each other prior to the entry of. said plunger into the same and for releasing said side walls to permit the articles to be ejected therefrom when said plunger is withdrawn therefrom, and means which alternately actuate said turn-tables and said plunger.

11. In a packaging machine, the combination of a plurality of filling tubes, means on said tubes to engage packages to releasablyattach the same to the lower open ends thereof a carrier on which said tubes are mounted and which moves said tubes into positions to receive a quantity of material, a rotary turn-table having a plurality of packing forms arranged thereon and movable intermittently into positions in which a filling tube of said carrier is positoned over a packng form on said tum-table, each of said packing forms having a bottom which is movable upwardly and downwardly, a plunger movable into a filling tube when positioned over said packing form for stripping the package from said form and for moving the package and contents into the packing form disposed beneath the package, the movable bottom on said packing form being moved downwardly by said package when actuated by said plunger, and means actuated through the medium of said package for raising said movable bottom of another package a packagetherefrom.

12. In a packaging machine, the combination form to elect of a plurality of filling tubes, means on said tubes to engage packages to releasably attach the same to the lower open ends thereof, a carrier on which said tubes are mounted and which moves said tubes into positions to receive a quantity 0! material, a rotaryturn-table having aplurality of packing forms arranged thereon and movable intermittently into positions in which a filling tube of said carrier is positioned over apacking form on said turn-table, a plunger movable into a filling tube when positioned over said packing form for stripping the package from said form and for moving the package and contents into the packing form disposed beneath the package, said packing forms having bottoms movable up and down and which are moved downwardly by said package when actuated .by said plunger, means connecting the bottoms of pairs of said packing forms for raising said movable bottom of one form to eject a package therefrom when the bottom of the other form of a pair is moved downwardly by said plunger while inserting a package into the other packing form of a pair.

JOHN W. MCCASLIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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